FORD F-150 2009-2012 : SOME TRUCKS WITH A 9.75 TRACTION LOK REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY EXHIBIT, DURING TIGHT SLOW TURNS, VIBRATION, CHATTER OR A SHUDDER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Ford F-150 suspension problems
moderate Owners of the 2011 Ford F-150 have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 71,414 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 F-150 | 16 |
| 2008 F-150 | 9 |
| 2009 F-150 | 3 |
| 2010 F-150 | 14 |
| 2011 F-150 (this page) | 10 |
| 2012 F-150 | 13 |
| 2013 F-150 | 13 |
| 2014 F-150 | 8 |
| 2015 F-150 | 9 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FORD 2009-2014 F150: SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING , DAMAGED 4X4 FRONT PINION BEARING DAMAGE IS NOTED DURING THE REPAIR OF THE FRONT AXLE ON 2009-2014 F150 VEHICLES UNITS OPERATED IN SEVERE COLD CLIMATES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: ON SOME TRUCKS, THERE IS NOISE (CHIRP, CLUNK, BOOM) COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER, WHEN TRAVELING OVER SHARP, SMALL BUMPS (POTHOLES, FROST HEAVES OR EXPANSION JOINTS, AND MORE APPARENT DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. MODEL 2010-2014 F-150.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES, FLUID IS PRESENT ON SHOCK ABSORBER SHAFT TO BODY INTERFACE OR THERE IS WETNESS AT REAR RESERVOIR SNAP RING AND NO REPLACEMENT SHOULD OCCUR, SINCE SHOCK WEEPAGE IS NORMAL. MODEL 2010-2014 F-150 RAPTOR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: THE SHOCK ABSORBER HAS FLUID OR WETNESS AT REAR RESERVOIR SNAP RING AND WEEPAGE OR LEAKAGE IS NORMAL AND WILL NOT HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT TO LIFT OF SHOCK ABSORBERS OR SUSPENSION. MODEL 2010-2013 F-150.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of this 2011 F-150 report multiple distinct suspension and drivetrain issues. Highway vibration at 65 mph is a recurring complaint, with one owner reporting the problem persisted despite tire replacement, rotations, balances, and rotor work. Jerking and lunging at highway speed appears in separate reports, including one that describes violent jerking at 65 mph that caused a serious wobble. Front suspension damage shows up as broken coil springs—one owner noted a broken driver-side strut spring that produced a loud thud when turning or hitting bumps; another reported both front coil springs broken, with a repair shop claiming F-150s are notorious for this failure. A cracked front frame was observed at 71,414 miles. One owner reports a rear axle that snapped in half, accompanied by fluid spray—this occurred on a used truck purchased with high mileage (around 96k). Rear-end creaking and transmission-related noises, along with rear axle and drivetrain noise, appear in multiple complaints. One owner took the truck to the dealer several times for transmission problems without resolution.
Same Ford F-150 suspension reports on nearby years: 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Highway vibration and shaking
Persistent vibration at highway speeds (65 mph) felt in driver and passenger seats and floor, unresolved by tire replacement, rotations, balances, and rotor replacement.
When: Present from purchase; 30k miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration most noticeable in driver and passenger seats; Shaking in floor at highway speeds; Distraction and irritation to driver
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement, rotations, balances, and rotor replacement attempted without success
Jerking and lunging at highway speed
Vehicle jerks violently and lurches forward while driving at highway speed; associated with a serious wobble in the rear.
When: At 30,000 miles (one report); continuing to 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent jerking and forward lunge; Serious wobble
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but no action documented
Broken front coil springs
One or both front coil springs fail, causing loud thud noise when turning or hitting bumps. Shop indicates F-150s are notorious for this problem.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud thud noise when turning; Loud thud when hitting small bumps during turns; Broken driver-side strut spring; Both front coils broken (second owner)
Repairs/costs cited: Repair shop noted F-150s are notorious for this failure
Cracked front frame
Cracks observed on the front frame during vehicle cleaning.
When: At approximately 71,414 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks on front frame
Repairs/costs cited: Not inspected, diagnosed, or repaired
Rear axle failure
Rear left axle snapped in half, causing fluid to spray from the vehicle.
When: On used truck with approximately 96k miles at purchase; failure within first 12k miles of owner's use (3 years elapsed)
Symptoms owners cite: Hissing noise from fluid spray; Rear axle snapped in half
Repairs/costs cited: Fluid spray observed; owner reports non-aggressive driving
Rear jerking without warning
Rear of vehicle jerks abruptly while driving at various speeds and during slowdown.
When: At 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unexplained jerking of rear; Occurs at various speeds and during braking
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to dealer for diagnosis; results unknown and vehicle not repaired
Rear suspension creaking
Rear end springs produce creaking sounds.
Symptoms owners cite: Creaking sound from rear end springs
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2011 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2011 Ford F-150?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 71,414. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.